Car-step



(No Model.)

J. F. KNAPP.

GAB. STEP.

Patented JulyY 5, 1887*.

.llemlluulllllln UNITED STATES PATENT EETcE. y

JOHN F. KNAPP, OF OMAHA, NEBRASKA.

VCAW-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 365,924, dated July 5l 1887.

Application nieu october 1s, rees.

.To all whom, 25 may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN F. KNAPP, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Omaha, in the county of Douglas and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steps for Railroad-Coaches, and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to extensonsteps for Vchieles,principall y designed for railroad-cars.

The improvement consists in the means for supporting the movable step and the devices for raising and lowering the same, which will be more 4fully hereinafter set forth, claimed, and shown in the annexed drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a rear perspective view of a pair of steps provided with my improvements, and Fig. 2 is a front perspective view thereof.

The object of the improvement is the coustruction of a pair of steps which can be readilylengthened and shortened, easily operated from the ground or platform, and which will at the same time be simple in arrangement, efficient and durable in use, and not liable to get ont of repair. Such steps are principally designed for vehicles and railroad-coaches and sleeping'cars, so that the passengers may the more easily enter and leave such vehicles without the inconvenience usually experienced by reason of the long step commonly found between the ground and the bottoni step. The steps shown may be of anywell-known and approved construction, and comprise the sides A and A', the risers B, and the steps C. The steps are provided near each end with the plates D, which are secured at their inner portions to the steps, and have transverselyapertured lugs d extending from their rear edge. The rods E pass through the openings in the lugs d, and are guided in their movements thereby. A portion near their upper ends is provided with teeth c, which are adapted -to mesh with pinions f, keyed on the shaft F,

journaled between the sides A and A. The

Serial No. 216,4l1. (No model.)

gear-wheel F', secured to the shaft F near one end, is engaged by the hand rack-bar G, held and guided in its movements by keepers g, secured to the side A. The hand rack-bar projects through the platform II and termifrom the hand rack-bar and the same pushed` down, (or if hand rack-bar be placed on opposite side of gear-wheel F, pulled up,) when the shaft F will be rotated and the bars E moved down or upward and carry the step with them. The shaft may be extended at one end and pass through one of the sides, and be provided with or adapted to receive 'the crank J, (also gear-wheel F, if it be desired to place it upon the outside,) by which it can be operated independent of the hand rackbar. It will be understood that the gear-wheel and hand rack-bar may be arranged outside of the step, the rack-bar in this instance being ex tended alongside of the front sill of the platform and held by suitable guides.

I am aware that steps for vehicles have been lengthencd and shortened by a movable step, which step is carried by rack-bars working in guides secured to the sides of the steps, said.

rack-bars having motion imparted thereto from a shaft journaled transversely of the steps and having pinions keyed thereon near each end meshing with the rack-bars. dle secured to the shaft serves to actnate the same when it is desired to lengthen or shorten the steps.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with the steps, the plates secured at their inner ends near each end of the steps proper, and having thei r outer ends transversely apertured, the toothed bars passed through the apertured ends of said plates and guided in their movements thereby, the steps secured to t-he lower ends of the bars, the shaft j ournaled transversely of the steps, the pinions keyed upon the shaft and mesh- Ahanv ing With the teeth of said toothed bars, of the the teeth on said bars, the gear-Wheel, the gear-Wheel secured upon the shaft, and the hand rack-bar held in engagement with the hand rack-bar held in engagement with the gear-wheel, the crank, and the stop, substangear-Wheel, Wherebya longitudinal movement tially as and for the purpose described.

5 0f said rack-bar will effect a corresponding I In testimony whereof I aflix my signature 15 movement of the toothed bars and steps, `subin presence of two Witnesses.

, stantially as and for the purpose described. h p JOHN F. KNAPP.

2. The combination of the steps, the toothed Witnesses: rods, the step secured to their ends, the shaft, THOMAS CRATTY,

Io the pinions keyed thereto and meshing with JosIAH CRATTY. 

